Pages from the Past: Baltimore County commits funds to build community college in Catonsville

An article in the Dec. 21, 1961, edition of the Herald Argus and Baltimore Countian reported plans to build a community college.

For the first time in its history, Baltimore county has committed itself to establishing separate plant and facilities for higher education. This precedent is the result of the County Council's approval last week of a Capital Improvement allocation of $250,000 to the Catonsville Community College.

Previously endorsed by the County Executive and the Board of Education, the appropriation will be matched by an equal grant from the State.

Half of the total sum of $500,000 will be used for purchasing a campus and the other half will be used for renovations or improvements to the site.

Dr. Oliver H. Larine, president of the community college, announced that negotiations have begun toward acquiring up to 100 acres for a suitable campus. One of the sites under consideration is the so-called Hilton Estate on Rolling road near Bloomsbury avenue.

*****

Police were investigating an auto fire which occurred last Friday night while the motorist was attending a dance.

The inside of the automobile which was completed burned out was parked on the west parking lot of the Edmondson Heights Elementary School at Longford road and Sunset avenue while the youth was attending a dance in the school auditorium.

*****

Three boys were stranded here on Dec. 13 when their car broke down on the Baltimore National Pike while they were on their way to their homes in New Jersey. The youths were held in the detention room of the Woodlawn police station.

The Baltimore county Board of Education has cleared the way for construction of the new Landowner Senior High. The forty-classroom structure will be located on the "lake site" at Third avenue and Hollies Ferry road. It was designed by Hopkins, Prefer and Associates and will be built by Henry A. Knott, Inc., in time for occupancy in the fall term of 1962.

The urgent need for the structure is evidenced by the necessity of transporting most of the senior high students in the Thirteenth District to the recently opened Woodlawn Senior High School.

In addition to the forty classrooms, it will contain a library, gymnasium, health area, cafeteria and administrative offices. In addition, a separate vocational and industrial arts building will be erected along with necessary service facilities.

*****

This Friday, Dec. 22, is the 15th anniversary of Catonsville's most celebrated births, those of the quadruplets of Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Hen, Jr., of 12 Park Drive. The principals involved, Joan, Thomas, Bruce and Donald., have never been interested in being celebrities. In fact, the celebration of their 15th birthday anniversary, as always, takes second place to Christmas although they may have a few friends in for ice cream and cake.

The Hen family, Dad, Mother, big brother John and the quadruplets will enjoy Christmas dinner at home next Monday.

*****

The 33-year-old Arbutus Community Association will award a scholarship of up to $1,000 each year to a deserving son or daughter of a resident of the Arbutus-Hale Thorpe vicinity who has lived in the area for at least three years at the time of the application.

The award will be made on the basis of the applicant's scholastic performance, character, leadership, ambition, soundness of plan and relative financial need.

75 Years Ago

An article in the Dec. 18, 1936, edition of The Catonsville Herald and Baltimore Countian announced the opening of a local train garden.

Ernest Elbert, generalissimo of the Catonsville firemen's Christmas garden display, has announced that the garden will be fully completed and ready for public inspection next Thursday afternoon, December 24.

Everybody is invited to view the display, which has been in process of preparation for several weeks.

The firemen wish to acknowledge with thanks the many donations which have been made for the display. Ornaments for the large Christmas tree are still needed and any contributions will be gratefully accepted at the Catonsville fire engine house.

*****

The Catonsville High School basketball team was nosed out by the Park School cagers in an over-time and non-league battle in the letter's gym last Tuesday, December 8, by a 27 to 23 margin. Schlesinger, center for the winners, led their attack with twelve points, while Bloom, visiting forward, led on the offense by caging ten points.

*****

Basie Truckman, Hilltop and Frederick Roads, Catonsville, Md., has qualified as an expert rifleman in the junior division of the National Rifle Association, it was announced today. The only grade higher than expert is distinguished rifleman.

She is a member of the Catonsville Rifle Club and won her qualification medals under the supervision of John C. Handy, instructor of the club.

100 Years Ago

An article in the Dec. 23, 1911, edition of The Argus announced a need for regulating railway fares.

There is a movement at Catonsville and Towson to have a law passed at the coming session of the legislature regulating railway fares in the county, it being claimed that at present there is not a uniformity of rates.

Catonsville and Towson are each about seven and one-half miles from Baltimore and have a 10-cent rate to the city, while it is stated that Woodlawn, which is 10 miles from Baltimore by one route and eight miles by the other, has a five-cent fare, and Overleaf, which is about the same distance from the city, has a five-cent fare with a transfer to all points.

The Civic League of Catonsville and the Towson Improvement Association have the matter under consideration.

*****

Rufus N. Werick, of Hale Thorpe, has been awarded a Burr scholarship this year at Harvard University, according to the official list announced Saturday. Werick prepared at Pennsylvania and will receive the bachelor of arts degree next June.

The Burr scholarship carries a cash stipend of $200. Werick is listed in group 2 of the honor students for high standing last year.

*****

Driving a buggy Tuesday evening at Edmondson and Ingleside avenues, Mr. William B. Haworth, a "trouble chaser" for the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone company at the Catonsville exchange, was struck by a large motor truck belonging to the American Transfer Company. Haworth was thrown out of the vehicle and escaped with a few slight injuries. The buggy was partly wrecked.